Nut-lock.



Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

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E. C. WA

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. m5.

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EDWIN C. WAKELAND, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD T0 JOB EDWIN ERICSON AND ONE-THIRD T0 JOHN W. HURLEY, BOTH OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

NUT-LOCK.

Application filed June 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. WAKELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of. nut locks, and more particularly to that type which consists broadlyof a flat washer interposed between the nut and its seat and so formed as to prevent the nut from being readily turned in one direction, with the principal object of preventing the nut from becoming unscrewed.

The object of my invention is to provide a nut-lock of the type described, which is simple and, therefore, cheap to produce; which can be readily and quickly applied to the standard forms of nuts and bolts now in use, and which will securely and positively hold the nut in its locked position.

To this end my invention consists in the novel nut-lock which I shall hereinafter de scribe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my nut-lock seen from its outer face, that is, from the face adjacent to the nut. Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation on the line wm of Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation on the line y-y of Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation, showing the nut-lock in its relation to the bolt. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, broken in part, showing the nut-lock in position between a nut and a metal surface. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, showing the nut-lock in position between a nut and a flat metal washer, as used against wood or similar surfaces.

Throughout the drawings-the numeral 1 represents a substantially flat, bifurcated washer, made, preferably of spring steel, and having two prongs 2 and 3. The prong 2 has on its inner edge a series of teeth 4 arranged as shown to bite in one direction and slip in the opposite direction. The end Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 31,678.

of the prong 2, moreover, is offset laterally outwardly, that is, toward the nut, as shown at 5. The end of the prong 3 is relatively wide, and is formed with an inwardly extending lip or bur, as shown at 6; and in addition the prong 3 has punched inwardly extending burs 7, disposed to bite oppositely from the end lip or bur 6.

The slot between the prongs 2 and 3 is tapered inwardly from its open end to a substantially semi-circular base seat 8, adapted to lie against the side of a bolt 9. Moreover, the two prongs are mutually helically offset, in order that the seat 8 may conform approximately to the pitch of the thread on the bolt 9 when the washer 1 is in its free, or unclamped position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The operation of my nut-lock may be described as follows :The lock-washer 1 is slipped on to the bolt 9 from the side, and forced thereon, as by being tapped lightly, until the seat 8 rests well against the side of the bolt. On account of the tapered form of the inter-prong space or slot, the teeth 4 of the prong 2 are forced into intimate engage ment with the ridge of the thread of the bolt 9. The nut 10 is then screwed to its seat, clamping the washer 1, with the eX- ception of the offset point 5, between the surface 11 and the inner side of the nut 10, and forcing the end bur 6 and the punchburs 7 into engagement with said surface 11, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. During the final tightening of the nut, the punch burs 7, engaging as described with the surface 11, prevent the washer 1 from turning any farther with the nut.

In the locked position of the device, the end bur 6 and the punch burs 7 on the prong 3 prevent the washer 1 from turning in either direction with respect to the surface 11; the teeth 4 prevent the washer from turning in a left-handed direction with respect to the bolt 9; and the offset point 5 on the prong 2, by engaging a corner of the nut 10, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, prevents the nut from unscrewing with respect to the washer. Thus the entire com- Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

I bination ofbolt, washer and nut is efiectually secured against loosening or unscrewmg. If the surface 12, shown in Figs. 7, be

of relatively soft material, as, for example, wood, a plain washer'may be used under the lock washer, as shown at 13 in said Fig. 7. To release the nut-lock, the laterally offset extremity 5 of the prong 2 is bent back out of the path of rotation of the nut, and the latter can then be unscrewed, after which the combination may readily be dismembered.

Although I have herein described my invention in its preferable form, nevertheless I am aware that variations may be made therein without in any way afiecting the essence of the invention, and I therefore do noltf wish to be construed as so limiting myse I claim 1. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt and having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a.

slip in the other, the extremity of said pr ng being laterally ofl'set to lie in the pat of rotation of a nut on said bolt.

2. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt and having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a slip in the other, the extremity of said prong beinglaterally ofiset to lie in the path of rotation of a nut on said bolt, and the other prong of said washer being helically distorted from the first to approximately con- .form to the pitch of the'bolt-thread.

3. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a .bolt, the inter-prong space tapering inwardly and rounded at its base, said washer having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a slip in the other,

'the extremity of said prong being laterally offset to lie in the path of rotation of anut on said bolt.

4. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifur-' cated to straddle a bolt, the inter-prong space tapering inwardly and rounded at its base, said washer havin the inner edge of one of its prongs forme with teeth having a bite in one direction and a. slip in the other, the extremity of said prong being laterally offset to lie in the path of rotation of a nut on said bolt, and the other prong of said washer being helically distorted from the first to approximately conform to the pitch of the bolt-thread.

5. A nut-lock comprising a washerbifurcated to straddle a bolt and having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a slip in the other, the extremity of said prong being laterally offset to lie in the ath of rotation of a nut on said bolt, an the other tremity of the first prong is offset, said bur being operative in the same direction as the bite of the teeth of said first prong.

6. A nut-lock comprisin' a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt an having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having abite in one direction and a slip in the other, the extremity of said prong being laterally ofl'set to lie in the path of rotation of a nut on said bolt, and the other prong of said washer having on its inner face a biting bur operative in a direction opposite to the bite o the teeth of the first prong.

7 A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt and having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a slip in the other, the extremity of said prong being laterally ofiset, to lie in the path ofrotation of a'nut on said bolt, and the other prong of said washer having on its inner face a biting bur operative in a direction opposite to the bite of the teeth'of the first prong,'said other prong having also its extremity formed with a biting burlaterally ofl'set in a direction opposite to that in which the extremity of the first prongis ofl'set, said bur being operative in the same direction as the bite of the teeth of said first prong.

8. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt and having the inner edge of one of=its prongs formed with 'teeth having a bite in one direction and a form to the pitch of the bolt-thread, said other prong having on its inner face a biting bur operative in a direction opposite to the bite of the teeth of the first prong, said other prong having also its extremity formed with a bitlng bur laterally oflset ina direction opposite to that in which the extremity of the first prong is offset, said bur being operative in the same direction as the bite of the teeth of said first prong.

9. A nut-lock comprising a washer bifurcated to straddle a bolt, the inter-prong space tapering inwardly and rounded at its base, said washer having the inner edge of one of its prongs formed with teeth having a bite in one direction and a slip in the other, the extremity of said prong being laterally offset to lie in the path of rotation of a nut on said bolt, and the other prong of said washer being helically distorted from the first to approximately conform to the pitch of the bolt-thread, said other prong having on its inner face a biting bur operative in a direction opposite to the bite of the teeth of the first prong, said other prong having also its extremity formed with a biting bur laterally ofiset in a direction opposite to that in which the extremity of the first prong is ofiset, said bur being operative in the same direction as the bite of the teeth of said first prong. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWIN C. WAKELAND.

Witnesses:

WM. F. BooTH, D. B. RICHARDS. 

